April 22, 2013 at 1:12 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. - (April 22, 2013) On April 12th and 13th, 2013, hundreds were dazzled by the internationally renowned John Jorgenson and his celebrated Quintet at the inaugural benefit concerts presented by the Oasis Project at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Live in the Museum’s Warden Oasis Theater, John Jorgenson (lead guitar, clarinet) and members of his Quintet including, John Jarvis (piano), Simon Planting (bass), Jason Anick (violin) and Rick Reed (percussion), performed two sets of unforgettable Gypsy Jazz that included Jorgenson’s original work ‘Sonora Spring’ inspired by a previous visit to the Desert Museum. The exquisite performances left the exuberant friends of the Desert Museum wanting more. Many who attended the performance Friday returned for the second night. Gail Skinner, Tucson resident, said, “Both my wife, Marlene, and I were extremely impressed with the music that the John Jorgenson Quintet demonstrated. The music was lively and really got us involved in the moment. We were so impressed that we just had to see if seats were available for the second night. John and the group did a great show both nights and we are looking forward to attending more shows at the Desert Museum in the future.”

Each ticket purchased included a code to redeem a download of the live performance that will be sold as a DVD to benefit the Desert Museum’s vital needs. Pre-sales for the DVD and codes are redeemed from the community section of the Oasis Project website located at www.oasisproject.desertmuseum.org. Also available is the aforementioned benefit single “Sonora Spring” as an audio download - all to benefit the Desert Museum.

The Oasis Project, made possible by a grant from the Bert W. Martin Foundation, is an innovative performing arts program designed to build sustaining relationships between creative artists and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. These programs are hosted in the Museum’s intimate Warden Oasis Theater to connect the community to the Museum’s conservation mission in novel ways. “I am extremely excited to be a part of this new project,” said Chandler Warden, Vice President of the Bert W. Martin Foundation and Board of Trustee Member of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. “It has always been the mission of the Martin Foundation to heighten awareness about our mission-centric programs.” Warden continued, “The Oasis Project epitomizes our Foundation’s efforts.”

Coming next from the Oasis Project is the award-winning hit songwriter and performer, Beth Nielsen Chapman, who will present songs from her newest project The Mighty Sky, a newly minted Gold Parent's Choice award winner. Beth's friend Mary Chapin Carpenter shares her perspective on the project: “Beth’s music has always been star-bound…in this collection, she takes listeners of all ages on a journey of the universe and in the process teaches as well as enriches the heart.”

Beth Nielsen Chapman will host a weekend of events including workshops and interactive, educational concerts that blend The Mighty Sky with the Museum’s quest to raise awareness around the conservation of our environment. Tickets and details surrounding the fall concert featuring Beth Nielsen Chapman will be available soon and are scheduled for November 15th and 16th, 2013. To add an additional experience to Chapman’s concerts, the Oasis Project is organizing an event during the peak of the Leonid meteor shower on the night of November 17th, 2013. It is expected that the meteor shower will produce an average of more than 40 meteors per hour that evening! To sign up to receive more information as details become available or to ask questions, please visit the Oasis Project online at www.oasisproject.desertmuseum.org, or call (520) 989-0901.

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Photo credit: Bob Gottlieb Photography

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Posted by
Ronald Lewis
on
Jan 19th, 2015

Saw John at the Arts center in Carrbaro, NC in August of 2014. He put on a terrific performance. I even have the DVD that that he performed with Elton John. He has a great talent with every guitar he performs with. I hope that in the future he will be able to come back to North Carolina again. I will certainly buy my ticket to be there.
Ron Lewis